These coaches leave no doubt as to who is in charge

College football's alpha-male coaches have good looks, booming voices and very deep pockets. No place are they more prevalent than in the SEC, but that isn't the only location these coaches reign.

From Notre Dame to Ohio State to USC, football coaches tend to rule the roost. It's their way or the highway, and they seem very unwilling to budge about much.

Here's a closer look at the alpha-male coaches operating outside the SEC, along with those coaches who are trying to climb the ladder in their profession:

Leaders of the pack

Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
The Southern gentleman changed the way Virginia Tech played football and how people thought about the Hokies. He became the face of the school after the horrific April 16, 2007 shooting on the Virginia Tech campus.

Mack Brown, Texas
It seems Brown has gotten more ornery with age. The coach that was once apt to hug his players is more inclined to holler at them.

Pete Carroll, USC
Don't let the suntan and good looks confuse you. The coach that was too nice for the NFL exudes confidence and even downright cockiness on the West Coast. The Trojans do things better than most everyone else -- and they're not afraid to tell you so.

Butch Davis, North Carolina
Davis learned under two of the greatest alpha males in college football history: Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. His NFL career sputtered because his Cleveland Browns team was led by a beta male -- quarterback Tim Couch.

Dennis Erickson, Arizona State
Fans might not always agree with how Erickson does it, but he's produced championship-caliber teams at all of his stops. Just when we thought Arizona State athletics director Lisa Love had lost her mind in hiring Erickson, he turned the Sun Devils into winners.

David Allio/Icon SMIPat Hill is the face and attitude of Fresno State football.

Pat Hill, Fresno State
Not only is Hill a coach you would want leading your program, but you'd also like him on your side in a dark alley. His rough-and-tough looks are a perfect match for Fresno.

Joe Paterno, Penn State
The 81-year-old coaching icon continues to scream at officials, his players, coaches and even reporters. Rest assured, Paterno won't go out quietly -- if and when retirement ever comes.

Rich Rodriguez, Michigan
Rodriguez wanted to control everything at West Virginia -- the Internet, who stood on the sideline during games and how the school marketed his name. The only thing he wants to control at Michigan? Ohio State, of course.

Howard Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic
Schnellenberger coached under Paul "Bear" Bryant and used the same boot-camp mentality to rebuild crumbling programs at Miami and Louisville, before building his own program at Florida Atlantic. He was so confident in his abilities that he told Oklahoma fans, "They'll write books and make movies about my time here."

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
Has there ever been a more booming voice in college football? It's a shame we don't hear it much once bowl games begin.

Jim Tressel, Ohio State
The man in the sweater vest and glasses reigns over the Big Ten with an iron fist. How does Tressel do it? You can read about it in his new book, "The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life."

Charlie Weis, Notre Dame
Weis was educated in the Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick schools of coaching and at times is as standoffish as his former bosses.

Moving up the line

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
Gundy is famous for screaming, "I'm a man!" If he's truly going to become the man, his Cowboys are going to have to win more.

Jim Harbaugh, Stanford
What other coach has the guts to criticize the academics of his alma mater before even winning a game at Stanford?

Dan Hawkins, Colorado
A little "Hawk Love" typically includes Hawkins ranting like a madman about how Colorado football "ain't intramurals, brother!"

Mike Leach, Texas Tech
There isn't a subject -- or airport -- Leach isn't willing to tackle. His postgame comments about officials and the Big 12 have left him in hot water more than once.

Jim Leavitt, South Florida
The Bulls love Leavitt for building their football program from scratch. Reporters who cover him sometimes cringe when hearing his baritone voice.

Bo Pelini, Nebraska
Pelini takes his no-nonsense approach to Nebraska, where he'll become the state's alpha male if he can turn the Cornhuskers into winners again.

Greg Schiano, Rutgers
Schiano has worked miracles at Rutgers, which was one of the worst programs in the country when he arrived. So much so that the Scarlet Knights seem willing to do anything to keep him there.

Mark Schlabach covers college football and men's college basketball for ESPN.com. You can contact him at schlabachma@yahoo.com.